20s Chinese International Student Assaulted by Two Men in Their 30s in Busan, Police Investigate... "Biased Judgment Unlikely, Not Anti-China Sentiment"

Busan Nambu Police Station.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The police have launched an investigation after receiving a report that a Chinese international student in his 20s was assaulted by two Korean men in Busan.

The incident has drawn attention as it occurred amid heightened tensions between the two nations following controversies over biased judgments at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

According to the Busan Nambu Police Station on the 11th, at around 8:50 PM on the 9th, a Chinese international student in his 20s, Mr. A, was reportedly assaulted by two Korean men in their 30s, including Mr. B, on a street in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu.

The police responded to the scene, took Mr. B and the other individual for voluntary accompaniment to the Daeyeon Police Substation for questioning, and then released them.

Since the incident, a video appearing to show the student victim being kicked has spread on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, accompanied by provocative posts claiming that "Chinese people were assaulted in Korea because of the Winter Olympics."

The police have stated that, so far, the case does not appear to be strongly related to anti-Chinese sentiment in Korea stemming from the Winter Olympics biased judgment controversy.

A police official said, "It seems the dispute started after shoulders bumped on the street. It is understood that the assailants did not specifically target the Chinese individual for assault."

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement regarding the incident on the consular service Weibo account on the afternoon of the 10th.

China stated, "We are paying close attention to this matter. The Consulate General in Busan has already contacted the parties involved to understand the situation and provide assistance."

They added, "We are cooperating with the local police investigation and continue to monitor the situation. We will protect the legitimate rights, interests, and physical safety of Chinese citizens abroad."

The police said they cannot disclose detailed information as the case is currently under investigation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.